Nine To Go. (3 Viewers)

[torchomatic]

Nine left. Three banks of three. Five at home, four away.

Next three games are against teams in 4th, 1st (or 2nd depending on Leeds result) and 3rd. Tough, but I'm only really worried about getting anything at Bramall Lane. I think we could be good for a win against either Sunderland and/or Burnley.

Following three; Pompey, Hull and Albion. Two pretty poor teams and Albion who we always struggle against. Maybe Frank can work his magic and break another hoodoo.

Plymouth, Luton, Boro. All teams we can and will beat.

Things are unpredictable, last night for example, but I still reckon we'll get into the play offs pretty comfortably with points to spare.

We're definitely better than Boro and Bristol City.

 

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[torchomatic]

Middlesbrough remaining fixtures:
Luton (A)
Oxford (H)
Blackburn (A)
Leeds (H)
Millwall (A)
Plymouth (H)
Wednesday (A)
Norwich (H)
Coventry (A)

Bristol City:
Norwich (H)
Burnley (A)
Watford (H)
Albion (H)
QPR (A)
Sunderland (H)
Luton (A)
Leeds.(A)
Preston (H)

 

[Sick Boy]

I think we’ll fall just short and if we do end up in the POs, I think we’ll go out. However, that and the semi-final defeat vs Man Utd will stand us in good stead for the following season if we end up back at Wembley.

 

[torchomatic]

I'm actually quite confident of securing a spot, but I don't think we'd get to Wembley. Not this year.

 

[stupot07]

Blackburn and Watford and even Sheffield Wednesday are still in the mix.

 

[Hobo]

Nine left. Three banks of three. Five at home, four away.

Next three games are against teams in 4th, 1st (or 2nd depending on Leeds result) and 3rd. Tough, but I'm only really worried about getting anything at Bramall Lane. I think we could be good for a win against either Sunderland and/or Burnley.

Following three; Pompey, Hull and Albion. Two pretty poor teams and Albion who we always struggle against. Maybe Frank can work his magic and break another hoodoo.

Plymouth, Luton, Boro. All teams we can and will beat.

Things are unpredictable, last night for example, but I still reckon we'll get into the play offs pretty comfortably with points to spare.

We're definitely better than Boro and Bristol City.

"Plymouth Luton and Boro we can and will beat". Just like Derby home and away? Plymouth are no pushovers at their place and could still survive.

Take one game at a time it's the only way.

 

[torchomatic]

Blackburn and Watford and even Sheffield Wednesday are still in the mix.

True. Don't think any of those are good enough though. All are too inconsistent. Blackburn losing at Stoke.

 

[torchomatic]

"Plymouth Luton and Boro we can and will beat". Just like Derby home and away? Plymouth are no pushovers at their place and could still survive.

Take one game at a time it's the only way.

Point taken. *Should* beat and I think we will. Avoiding defeat at the very least.

 

[Lamps]

I'm actually quite confident of securing a spot, but I don't think we'd get to Wembley. Not this year.

I'd fancy our chances against Sunderland especially if our players are fit by the time we play. Then anything could happen in the final.

 

[Lionelr]

Lampard’s done wonders to get us into this position. Realistically, 70 points should sneak a play off spot. 14 points in 9 games is a big ask but the sort of form a top 6 team should have. Have to be looking at teams like Luton, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Hull as ‘winnable’ games. I can’t see us getting much vs the next 3. Could it all come down to the final day vs Middlesbrough?

 

[Lamps]

Lampard’s done wonders to get us into this position. Realistically, 70 points should sneak a play off spot. 14 points in 9 games is a big ask but the sort of form a top 6 team should have. Have to be looking at teams like Luton, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Hull as ‘winnable’ games. I can’t see us getting much vs the next 3. Could it all come down to the final day vs Middlesbrough?

Can't see 70 points being needed to beat 7th. All sides have 9 games to go.

Bristol City have a difficult run in. They're on 54 points so would need 5 wins 1 draw to make it to 70.

Burnley H
WBA A
Sunderland H
Leeds A

They also have Norwich and Watford who still have a chance depending on other results so should be up for it.

The teams below this are looking at getting 6 wins out of 9 or more to make it to 70 when they're all not in good form.

 

[quinn1971]

5 wins from the last 9 and we’re in, or 4 after Saturday

 

[theferret]

I still think it is a big ask, lots can happen in this final 9 games. Things change quickly and there is always one team that go on a crazy run, Hull last year iirc, although they just missed out. We could be out of the top 6 before we play Sunderland on Saturday, and fail to win that we're then facing a trip to SU. Easy for things to derail. Of course, could go the other way. Not buying the idea we'll make it comfortably. If we do, it'll likely be final day

 

[Lamps]

I still think it is a big ask, lots can happen in this final 9 games. Things change quickly and there is always one team that go on a crazy run, Hull last year iirc, although they just missed out. We could be out of the top 6 before we play Sunderland on Saturday, and fail to win that we're then facing a trip to SU. Easy for things to derail. Of course, could go the other way. Not buying the idea we'll make it comfortably. If we do, it'll likely be final day

May I remind you that we're on one of them crazy runs....

Nobody is saying we will do it comfortably. The point mainly being made are it looks like a very low amount of points to the usual average should be enough this season. We have won 9 out of the last 11. Winning 5 of the next 9 should be enough.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

May I remind you that we're on one of them crazy runs....

Nobody is saying we will do it comfortably. The point mainly being made are it looks like a very low amount of points to the usual average should be enough this season. We have won 9 out of the last 11. Winning 5 of the next 9 should be enough.

With the mix of games we’ve got and who the teams in and around us have, 12 points should put us in a strong position. The teams around us have got a lot of games against one another e.g. Bristol v Norwich, Sheff W v Sheff U. After the international break: Norwich v WBA, Burnley v Bristol.

So yes, we’ve got 3 tough games coming up but if we’re still in the top 6 after that, the likelihood we’ll fumble it ought to be low.

 

[Lamps]

With the mix of games we’ve got and who the teams in and around us have, 12 points should put us in a strong position. The teams around us have got a lot of games against one another e.g. Bristol v Norwich, Sheff W v Sheff U. After the international break: Norwich v WBA, Burnley v Bristol.

So yes, we’ve got 3 tough games coming up but if we’re still in the top 6 after that, the likelihood we’ll fumble it ought to be low.

I fully agree.

And with recent results I see Bristol City as our main rivals trying to take our top 6 place. They have Norwich, Burnley and Watford when we have our harder 3 games. It doesn't get much easier for them as they then have WBA. I can't see them pulling ahead of us by much during these games as we're 2 points ahead of them and there's no sign of one of the clubs we raced past putting a good run together.

I wouldn’t want to swap position in the table and remaining games with anyone outside the top 4.

 

[Otis]

Middlesbrough remaining fixtures:
Luton (A)
Oxford (H)
Blackburn (A)
Leeds (H)
Millwall (A)
Plymouth (H)
Wednesday (A)
Norwich (H)
Coventry (A)

Bristol City:
Norwich (H)
Burnley (A)
Watford (H)
Albion (H)
QPR (A)
Sunderland (H)
Luton (A)
Leeds.(A)
Preston (H)

As has been said, Bristol have a very tough run in.

Norwich, Burnley, Watford, WBA, Sunderland, Leeds

All teams right up there

 

[theferret]

May I remind you that we're on one of them crazy runs....

Nobody is saying we will do it comfortably. The point mainly being made are it looks like a very low amount of points to the usual average should be enough this season. We have won 9 out of the last 11. Winning 5 of the next 9 should be enough.

Somebody literally said we will do it comfortably a few posts up, so I was responding to that. Yes we've been on a great run, but will be hard to sustain from here. It's possible, likely even, that one team will go on a great run from this point.

I also don't really pay too much attention to who teams are playing, there will be some strange results. Three away games at teams fighting the drop are going to be very difficult.

We're in a good position though and I think you're right the points required will probably be a bit lower than average.

 

[Lamps]

As has been said, Bristol have a very tough run in.

Norwich, Burnley, Watford, WBA, Sunderland, Leeds

All teams right up there

Preston not a given either. They drew 1-1 at Sunderland last game keeping them to 2 shots on target. Sunderland didn't score until near the end of the game.

 

[Lamps]

Somebody literally said we will do it comfortably a few posts up, so I was responding to that. Yes we've been on a great run, but will be hard to sustain from here. It's possible, likely even, that one team will go on a great run from this point.

I also don't really pay too much attention to who teams are playing, there will be some strange results. Three away games at teams fighting the drop are going to be very difficult.

We're in a good position though and I think you're right the points required will probably be a bit lower than average.

Are you on about the post saying IF we're still in the top 6 after our next 3 games?

Remaining games are very important. Look at our next 3 remaining games. Yet I wouldn't swap with Bristol City.

Yes games against sides at the bottom can and will be difficult. They're playing for their survival. Backs to the wall like against Derby. But I'd rather play them than Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United or even sides still with a chance of making the top 6. Even the sides mid table with nothing to play for won't be easy. They can play without worry.

All we can do is keep putting points on the board. The teams below us will keep dropping points.

 

[Hobo]

As has been said, Bristol have a very tough run in.

Norwich, Burnley, Watford, WBA, Sunderland, Leeds

All teams right up there

Well we have Sunderland, Sheffield United, Burnley and West Brom.

So if they get a couple of wins and a draw and we just get a couple of draws they are all over us.

I think the relegation battle is just as tight and will go to the wire. So Luton and Plymouth if we require points aren't going to be as easy as they look on paper. League positions will mean nothing, it will be who handles the pressure of needing points the best. They will be one off cup ties. This is based on about 55 seasons of watching Coventry City.

Portsmouth beat Leeds, Plymouth go to Portsmouth and win, Stoke beat Blackburn. We are at that stage of the season now. The best teams to play in last 3 weeks are teams that have nothing to play for and the players have already packed there bag for the beach.

 

[Northeast sky blue]

Middlesbrough's fixture look good for them on paper, although I don't think their away record is great.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Could it all come down to the final day vs Middlesbrough?

I'd take that now.

 

[Lamps]

Well we have Sunderland, Sheffield United, Burnley and West Brom.

So if they get a couple of wins and a draw and we just get a couple of draws they are all over us.

Swap us playing Sheffield United for them playing Leeds and we're then playing against the same sides for our most difficult games. Then add Norwich and Watford for them who are both still in the playoff hunt. That's 6 out of their remaining 9 games. We have a 2 point advantage.

WBA don't exactly have it easy either and are level on points with us.

It's going to be a very interesting end to the season.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

If we get to Wembley, would love for it to be Leeds just in the case Lampard beats them again in a play off. Don’t think their fans could cope

 

[Hobo]

If we get to Wembley, would love for it to be Leeds just in the case Lampard beats them again in a play off. Don’t think their fans could cope

I would rather it be Sunderland and give them a proper reason to dislike us

 

[MusicDating]

 

[mmttww]

Tue night was a proper f*ck up. If we win that, we probably need four wins from nine. Now it's five from nine with three really tough games next. It wouldn't be a shock if it ends up being four or five wins needed from the last six, which is a lot of pressure.

 

[M&B Stand]

Tue night was a proper f*ck up. If we win that, we probably need four wins from nine. Now it's five from nine with three really tough games next. It wouldn't be a shock if it ends up being four or five wins needed from the last six, which is a lot of pressure.

It was always on the cards, loads were saying beforehand that was the game we could slip up in.
Derby looked shit, but what they did do, was win everything that went in their box, won most second balls. They were really up for it and just did a job on us, we were due one of them
We can’t keep winning 3-2. We need to stop conceding from set pieces.

Saturday is really big now. Going into the international break. We need a positive performance and result.

 

[mmttww]

Saturday is really big now. Going into the international break. We need a positive performance and result.

Yeah, need to see some guts going fwd and proper focus at the back from broken play and set pieces.

 

[quinn1971]

And what a game Saturday to put things right, Sunderland won’t fancy it, full house at a place they dont do well at, these are the games you want, should be a cracker

 

[OffenhamSkyBlue]

We won't need five wins. Four and a couple of draws will probably see us over the line in 5th or 6th. All of the teams we have beaten in the previous 10 have been bottom half or starting to crumble (Blackburn, etc). The only top 6 side was Leeds and they were a class above. I don't think we will get more than 1 or 2 points from the next 9, and our defensive frailties put to the test against teams scrapping for survival. The Baggies game will be a real six-pointer.

 

[Grendel]

As has been said, Bristol have a very tough run in.

Norwich, Burnley, Watford, WBA, Sunderland, Leeds

All teams right up there

We have 3 of those to play and Sheff Utd - I think Norwich are easily beatable

 

[edgy]

Been saying for a while and still believe it. Goal Difference will be or downfall. We'll finish on the same points as Bristol or Middlesborough but will miss out.

 

[Flying Fokker]

We won't need five wins. Four and a couple of draws will probably see us over the line in 5th or 6th. All of the teams we have beaten in the previous 10 have been bottom half or starting to crumble (Blackburn, etc). The only top 6 side was Leeds and they were a class above. I don't think we will get more than 1 or 2 points from the next 9, and our defensive frailties put to the test against teams scrapping for survival. The Baggies game will be a real six-pointer.

I admire your optimism.